because from the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks (Matt. 12:34)

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Choosing Your New Pet

New pets can bring endless joy and create priceless memories for almost any family when a good, solid people-pet connection is made. A little research can go a long way. Before bringing home a new pet, families should first consider their lifestyles and assess who is home at what time and for how long. New pet owners need to know their patterns and schedules before they can make an educated decision about a pet. A family must match their new pet’s needs to their commitment level and time at home is a major factor in determining how committed they can be. Maintenance expenses are another factor.

This child is convinced a tarantula would make a great pet for him.

For example, a young family with a parent who spends a lot of time at home and has dedicated, pet-passionate kids might be well suited for a high need, long term pet like a rabbit. A family with parents who work a lot outside the home and busy teenagers who are frequently away and leaving for college soon might choose a low maintenance, short term pet like a betta fish. Personally, I happen to find parrots fascinating! However, the only reason I own one is because I have a full time staff to care for her along with hundreds of fans who give her the endless daily attention she needs. My busy lifestyle is not conducive to having a pet parrot at home. Discerning which pet is right for which family at which time is absolutely essential to the success of the family-pet connection.

Once a good family-pet match is determined, I encourage families to start at the beginning with pets, exactly as if the new pet is a baby, even if it’s an adult rescue. Starting at the beginning will expose any issues that need to be addressed and affirm healthy boundaries and behaviors that are already present. Acclimate all new pets in small steps, maintaining proper care and boundaries from its first day home. New pet owners are tempted to go overboard with a new pet at first but it’s actually better for pets to experience their typical routine from day one, just the way it’s going to be for life.

Determine who takes care of which needs and when. Maybe one person is in charge of morning feeding, another evening feedings, and another in charge of cleaning. Rotating a schedule of responsibilities might work for some families while for others, perhaps the person with the most predictable schedule is in charge of the most important daily tasks, while someone else is in charge of the more variable tasks. The important thing is that a schedule/routine is established before the pet comes home so adjustments can be made right away. Sometimes simply setting up the schedule exposes the fact that a pet’s needs exceed a family’s possible commitment level and a failed connection can be avoided before it occurs.

Only purchase the basic necessities for a pet (in small quantities) before actually bringing the pet home. Learning a pet’s less predictable needs may take a little observation time. For example, we always suggest only one of each type of dog toy until it becomes obvious which type of toys your dog prefers. If he’s a hunter then he might need extra toys to hide, seek, and fetch. If she’s a destroyer, she might not need a retrieving toy at all and the budget might be needed to frequently replace soft, destructible toys instead. Temporary phases (like teething) need to be considered, as well.

Lastly, pet proof your home along the same lines as you would when toddler proofing. If your new pet will spend time roaming the home, start at the floor level and literally crawl around to get the correct perspective. Remove tempting or hazardous items from the floor up until they are out of your pet’s reach. Look for potential risks and educate your family regarding potentially harmful substances.

Caring for pets is an important part of life. Spend time in responsible shelters and high quality, independent pet stores where you can handle the animals and ask questions. Notice which pets appeal to you then evaluate your potential commitment to narrow your search. Matching the right pet to the right family at the right time makes for successful people-pet connections to last the life of the pet!